Sept. 19, 2012

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team will begin its season next week as the No. 4 team in the country, as the preseason coaches poll was released today.

The Gamecocks won the tenth and final Southern Equestrian Championship in March, defeating then-No. 1 Georgia in a 10-10 tiebreak.

The Hunt Seat team returns off its top riders from a season ago, including senior Kimberly McCormack, who went 22-8 with five MVP’s as a junior while also winning the equitation over fences championship at the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. Sophomore Katherine Schmidt also returns for the Hunt Seat squad, as the Connecticut native posted the best record in the nation at 25-7 with five MVP’s.

The Western team also returns the majority of its key riders from a season ago, both in Horsemanship and Reining. Seniors Audrey Jewell and Amanda Pope return to lead the reining team, as both posted a career-high nine wins during the 2011-2012 campaign. In Horsemanship redshirt junior Johnna Letchworth and junior Alison Ceresani return, as both riders combined to go 27-6-1 with six MVP’s.

Along with the returning upperclassmen, last year’s freshman class led the Gamecocks in both wins and MVP’s.

The collegiate coaches competing under the National Collegiate Equestrian Association umbrella initiated the national poll. The next poll will be released on October 3.

Women’s Intercollegiate Equestrian National Coaches Poll
Ranking/Team/Points
T-1. Georgia (82)
T-1. Texas A&M (82)
3. Auburn (63)
4. South Carolina (61)
5. Oklahoma State (57)
6. Baylor (40)
7. Kansas State (35)
8. Texas Christian (31)
9. Fresno State (13)
10. New Mexico State (12)

Receiving votes – Southern Methodist (8), Delaware State (5), Tennessee-Martin (3), South Dakota State (2), West Texas A&M (1).